…. This is exacerbated by the tightening of the UK’s carbon reduction target to net zero by 2050 since earlier carbon budgets were set. The report shows that only a limited number of steps have been taken over the past year to support the transition to a net-zero economy and improve the UK’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, and much remains to be done. Regarding the challenge of post-Covid…
… be designed to help achieve net zero”. 93% of assembly members ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that, “As lockdown eases, government, employers and/or others should take steps to encourage lifestyles to change to be more compatible with reaching net zero.” Ipsos Mori conducted a similarly rigorous Assembly commissioned by Oxford City Council14, triggered by the Council’s declaration of a climate…
… emergency. The question for the Assembly was “The UK has legislation to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050. Should Oxford be more proactive and seek to achieve ‘net zero’ sooner than 2050?” After examining the evidence, 90% of the randomly selected and representative participants said ‘yes’. Other headline recommendations from the Assembly members were that Oxford should be a leader in tackling…
… the climate crisis; enhanced biodiversity was central to the City’s overall ‘net zero’ vision along with more cycling, walking, and public transport, and far fewer cars; the buildings sector should adopt improved building standards, widespread retrofitting, and more domestic and non- domestic energy needs should be met by sustainable sources…
… was challenged to communicate a shared vision and strategy to reaching ‘net zero’ that shows the roles played by local and national government, businesses, and individuals. As more Citizens’ Assembly exercises are undertaken by Local Authorities, a consistent picture is emerging that residents, when presented with the facts of the climate emergency, consistently call on local leaders to respond more…